Region's drivers put to first test of season

Rescue personnel from Ashton, Franklin Grove, Rochelle and Ogle County work in the
snow to free the driver of an overturned semitrailer Monday morning on South Chana
Road near Ashton. Stephanie L. Williams, 32, of Stillman Valley, suffered minor
injuries in the rollover.

Caption

(Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com)

Rescuers attend to the driver, then the precarious position of the semi Monday morning. The bed of the truck had to be chained to another semitrailer to keep it from rolling over.

BY CHRISTI WARREN
cwarren@saukvalley.com
800-798-4085, ext. 521

STERLING – Quite a few accidents were reported in Whiteside and Lee counties Monday, as the first measurable snow of the season swept the Sauk Valley.

"It's the first snowfall of the year," Lee County Sheriff John Varga said. "People forget how to drive during summer weather."

Varga noted that his agency responded to a number of calls about minor accidents, but that none involved injuries.

In Ogle County, a Stillman Valley woman suffered minor injuries when the semitrailer she was driving rolled over north of Ashton.

According to a news release from the Ogle County Sheriff's Department, the semi, driven by Stephanie L. Williams, 32, was southbound on South Chana Road at 10:37 a.m. Monday near state Route 38 when it crossed the road, went into a ditch and rolled on its side.

Williams had to be extricated from the cab by Ashton firefighters. She was taken to Rochelle Community Hospital, where she was treated for minor injuries and released.

Her trailer was loaded with lime, which spilled into the ditch and a nearby cornfield. The crash remains under investigation.

Dixon Police handled seven accidents Monday, several of which were single-car wrecks. One car slid into a fire hydrant, Dixon Police Chief Danny Langloss said, there were a few two-car accidents, and a couple of cars slid into poles. They also responded to four motorist assists, he said.

In Whiteside County, a handful of car accidents were reported, but according to the Sheriff's Department, no injuries were involved.

Rock Falls Police responded to two minor fender benders, Chief Mike Kuelper said, one on the east side of town and another on the west side – also with no injuries.